# stimulus

/ˈstɪmjəɫəs/ (US) · /stˈɪmjʊləs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stimulus
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. an incentive or boost

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

something that encourages growth, activity, or more effort.

For teachers: an incentive or spur that encourages a system, such as an economy or a person, to increase activity or development.

- The government provided a financial stimulus to help small businesses grow.
- Economists debated whether the proposed tax cuts would provide a sufficient stimulus to jump-start the stagnant manufacturing sector.

### 3. a stinging part

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a sharp, stinging part on the body of a plant or an insect.

For teachers: a stinging hair or sharp organ on a plant or animal used for defense or irritation.

- The biologist examined the tiny stimulus on the leaf under a microscope.
- Certain species of nettle possess a stimulus that injects irritating chemicals into the skin upon the slightest physical contact.

## Examples

- The bright light was a stimulus for the plant to grow.
- The government introduced a new tax break as a stimulus to encourage small business investment.
- In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned response through repeated pairing, eventually eliciting the behavior independently.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.